Maharashtra mulls ending aid to medicos unwilling for rural placement

Updated on: Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Taking a serious view of the reluctance shown by medicos in Maharashtra to work in rural areas for a year after their graduation, the state government is considering a proposal to stop financial assistance to those students who don't want to fulfil the bond.

"Nearly Rs 30-40 lakh are spent on each medical student and it is expected that they commit themselves to serve in government medical service, especially in rural areas, for a year. If they do not wish to do so, they should pay the full fees like in private colleges," a senior health department official said.

If they violate the bond, amount ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs two crore can be recovered from them, depending on the course - diploma, graduation or post graduation, he said.

According to officials, it has been noticed that students neither pay the bond amount nor join the stipulated one-year government service.

In a bid to ensure co-ordination, the health department held regular meetings with Medical education ministry since June this year to increase the number of students in the bonded placement.

About 275 students were given rural placements in the first week of September and were asked to join duty by September 22. However, only 91 - including 44 MBBS, reported for duty. And after the health department complained to the Medical education department, 200 more medicos reported for work, officials said.

The total vacancies this year in the bonded placement was over 400, health officials said.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan will soon convene a meeting to discuss the issue, they said.

In the last five years, it has come to the notice of the health department that students are not inclined to serve in rural areas and also in government service. It is mandatory for bonded candidates to serve in government hospitals.

"Since the penalty for violating the bond is not recovered, the arrears are now to the tune of around Rs 70 crore," sources said.

Health department officials feel that there is a need to change the manner in which appointments for bonded placements are made. As of now, they are given placements in vacant posts only. The graduate and post graduate students feel that they should be appointed in posts of subjects of their curriculum.

From October 3, the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi scheme will be implemented in eight districts and later will be extended to the entire state. The free medical treatment will include serious ailments and surgeries. "For this purpose, graduate and post graduate students in specialised medical courses will be required," officials said.

Maharashtra mulls ending aid to medicos unwilling for rural placement

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